Distinguished Researcher III
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences | Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems
Hometown: Eau Claire, Chippewa Falls, Sun Prairie, all in Wisconsin
Michelle Miller works as a practicing economic anthropologist engaged in participatory action research on food systems. She worked for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection’s Sustainable Agriculture Demonstration program, assisting the development of farmer networks, soil erosion control, and watershed projects. Michelle worked for World Wildlife Fund in the Great Lakes states and provinces on agricultural pollution prevention. At the UW, she has worked with fruit growers to assist them to reduce pesticide risk, build regional markets, and establish living infrastructure to reduce soil erosion. Current projects focus on agriculture of the middle and regional food economies, food distribution and supply networks, Smart Foodsheds, resiliency and climate change.
Talks:
Disruptions to our food systems: lessons from the past and change on the horizon
Food systems are vulnerable to disruption at many different points in the system. Slow change and rapid developments, war, climate and technology disruptions stress existing systems. What is needed to make food systems more resilient?
Sustainable agriculture in Wisconsin
Wisconsin farmers have led the sustainable agriculture movement, an outgrowth of older agrarian reform movements stretching back 500 years, and connected to the 20th century Wisconsin Idea.
Food systems and AI
Researchers around the country are investigating ways to understand food systems using AI technologies and looking for ways to democratize access to AI tools and information for small and medium size businesses, especially in rural regions.